The long drive home!

MONDAY, OCTOBER 31

Navidad and I came home last Tuesday, October 25^th – a week earlier than my planned return date of November 1^st.  Having abandoned all plans, due to Hurricane Matthew, to visit my brother Welby in the Norfolk/Virginia Beach area and to continue to travel further south to North Carolina’s Outer Banks and Ocracoke, I had to alter the “third leg” of my camper trip – the drive back west to California. 

On October 11^th, instead of being at the First Landing State Park in Virginia Beach, VA and enjoying that historical seaside environment, Navidad and I were at the Lee Hi Campground in Lexington, VA where our view overlooked a sea of trucks at that facility’s truck travel center.  At that point in time, I had exactly three weeks to travel this “third leg” and I thought I would make up for the lost week at the coast by visiting several state parks along the way westward.

I changed my mind, however, as I observed Navidad’s demeanor and had a heart-to-heart talk with him.  His IBD condition had been flaring up now and then and he was showing obvious signs of “camper travel fatigue.”  The decision was made to cut the trip short and drive no more than four hours a day on I-40.  Onward home, these were our stops –

   Oct. 12 – Lakeview RV Park, Bluff City, TN

   Oct. 13 – Spring Lake RV Resort, Crossville, TN

   Oct. 14 – Same place (did laundry!)

   Oct. 15 – Parkers Crossroads RV Park, Yuma, TN

   Oct. 16 – Memphis KOA, Marion, AR

   Oct. 17 – Outdoor Living Center RV Park, Russellville, AR

   Oct. 18 – Rockwell RV Park, Oklahoma City, OK

   Oct. 19 – Oasis RV Resort, Amarillo, TX

   Oct. 20 – Albuquerque Central KOA, Albuquerque, NM

   Oct. 21 – USA RV Park, Gallup, NM

   Oct. 22 – Route 66 KOA, Seligman, AZ

   Oct. 23 – Lake Havasu State Park, Lake Havasu City, AZ

   Oct. 24 – Riviera RV Resort, Blythe, CA (dumped all tanks here)

   Oct. 25 – Home!

Navidad and I traveled nearly 8,000 miles in 55 days.  He’s been everywhere!  I don’t know another cat who can boast the same!

   1^st Leg: (CA-NV-ID-MT-ND-MN-MI-Ontario-Quebec) - 3,279 miles

   2^nd Leg: (NY-PA-WV-VA-MD-DC) - 1,585 miles

   3^rd Leg: (MD-DC-VA-TN-AR-OK-TX-NM-AZ-CA) - 2,983 miles

  

Navidad and me, heading on home...

At dusk, the Stage Coach 66 Motel, a Route 66 landmark, Seligman, AZ.

At dawn, my truck camper, just off Route 66, Seligman, AZ.

The setting sun, as seen from my camper, Lake Havasu State Park, AZ.

My camp chair, waiting for me...Lake Havasu State Park.

Turning tail, courtesy of Matthew...

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 5

Having arrived at the Janes Island State Park [in Crisfield, MD] the previous afternoon, I spent all day writing my blog and selecting the pictures to post.  I don’t have Wi-Fi at my site (this is a state park after all) but I sure did enjoy, especially after the full and busy week I just had in the D.C. area, the quiet time to write…and to gaze out at the Daugherty Creek Canal.

Since I knew that I could access the internet in (or near) the office, I walked over there before they closed to test the signal strength.  My mobile was out of range but I could use my iPad to check for emails.  The draft of my blog is ready to post.  I’ll come back in the morning.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 6   

As soon as the office opened at 9:00 a.m., I was right there with my laptop.  Since I had a lot more pictures than usual to go with my new story, it took me nearly three hours to get the story and pictures formatted and ready to post.  Luckily, the internet connection hung on long enough for me to do that!

On my way out to return to my camper I asked the lady there for the latest update on Hurricane Matthew.  She showed me the projected tracking on her computer and it showed Matthew was expected to veer out to sea after it hits South Carolina.  My itinerary at this point, starting tomorrow, included overnight stops in Ocean City and Assateague, Maryland, Chincoteague and Virginia Beach, Virginia, and finally, the Outer Banks and Ocracoke, North Carolina.

Since hurricanes can be unpredictable, and often are, I had feelings of uncertainty about keeping this part of the itinerary.  Not only that, I had just received an email informing me that my reservation on the island of Ocracoke was cancelled.  That email pretty much clinched it for me and I sent a text to my sister Evelyn and asked her to call the RV Parks that I had previously reserved to cancel and request refunds of my deposits and/or payments.  She did that and then texted me that none of them would grant refunds.  They said – “Matthew isn’t going to affect us.”

At 1:00 p.m., Navidad and I left this lovely state park, drove back to Rt. 50 and took a couple of rural roads to Nanticoke, MD where I had a one-night reservation at the Roaring Point Waterfront Campground.  The owner there gave me a great site – directly in front of the Nanticoke River.  The recreation here is mostly fishing and crabbing.  I sat out on the beach, and with my Rum and Diet Coke cocktail, looked out at the water, watched some of the people fiddling around with their fishing poles, and considered my potential options over the next few days.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7

Oh, the sunset last night was lovely…as was the sunrise this morning.  A decision was made – go on to Ocean City for my two-night stay there.  We left Nanticoke at 10:00 a.m. and made our way back to Rt. 50, heading east to the Atlantic Ocean.

The Nanticoke River at sunset (10/6), as seen from my camper’s rear.

The Nanticoke River shortly after sunrise (10/7).

After checking in at the Castaways RV Resort & Campground, I drove around this spacious RV Park and felt glad to be here.  Situated on the Sinepuxent Bay, this is a lovely (and pricey!) family campground with lots of amenities, including a waterfront Tiki Bar, a café, a “Bark Beach” (dogs, not trees), another beach for humans, and fun stuff to rent for the water.  My site was nowhere within view of the water, but as soon as I got set up I discovered I had excellent internet, mobile, and cable TV access.  I immediately tuned in to CNN, my favorite news program, and watched footage about Hurricane Matthew.  I walked around for a bit, sat outside in my camp chair for awhile, and then kept company with Navidad inside the camper.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 8  

Another decision was made – drop all plans to boondock on my oceanfront site on Assateague Island National Seashore.  Matthew was whipping much closer, having hit South Carolina, and I knew it would not be fun, nor pleasant, to camp on the beautiful Assateague without hookups [and communication access].  The free-roaming ponies that lived there might not even come around to the beach, sensing already the impending storm.  So, I walked over to the office and paid for a third night at my site.

Disappointed but feeling better for this decision, I told Navidad I’d seen him later and walked over to the “bus stop” to catch the Castaway’s 10:00 a.m. shuttle bus to the Ocean City boardwalk.

The shuttle dropped us off at the Baltimore Avenue/Somerset intersection.  Walking north on the boardwalk, I was remembering with nostalgic amazement many a time I had been there with friends, summers and winters.  Although I later joined the gang and transitioned over to Rehoboth Beach in Delaware, I will always have a soft spot in my heart for Ocean City.

It’s still there! I don’t think any hurricane is ever going to destroy this gaudy boardwalk landmark!

From the Somerset intersection, I walked to the very end of the boardwalk – approximately 30 blocks.  As I remembered it, the stores, junk food and food/bar establishments soon morphed into a long stretch of motels and rental cottages.  On my right was the beach, empty but for a few people and their dogs.  I had a destination and six reasons for going there.

An empty beach chair, a lone seagull – and the Atlantic – a picture of calm on a cloudy day.

A few blocks from the end of the boardwalk, on Baltimore Avenue, I arrived at Higgins Restaurant and told my server I wanted just one thing – a half dozen of steamed Chesapeake Blue crabs, with melted butter, and a glass of water.  It’s been a long time since I had this Maryland delicacy.  Not a meal to rush through, I took my time – two hours to be exact – to pick through the meat of these six crabs.  It brought back memories, especially of Bobbie, Billy, Mary, Ernie…

My platter of steamed Chesapeake Blue crabs.

Back on the boardwalk, I walked south to the inlet end of the boardwalk.  The amusement park is now closed for the season but the lingering smells in that area triggered other memories.  Ah, there it is – the perpetually long line for Thrasher’s French Fries!  Next time, I told myself!

Cloudy, but pleasantly cool and breezy all day, it started to drizzle around 3:30 p.m.  The shuttle came at 4:15 p.m. and by the time I was back inside the camper, the drizzle became a steady rain.

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 9

It rained all through the night and through most of today.  The camper windows all fogged up and it was cold enough inside for me to turn the heat on.  I tuned in to the Weather Channel and learned about the havoc Matthew had just caused in the Carolinas and in parts of Virginia.  There was wind damage but flooding was the major problem.  The Outer Banks was mentioned and I knew immediately from video footage that I couldn’t go there.  Ocracoke had already been cancelled…and then, there it was, an email from the First Landing State Park in Virginia Beach, cancelling my October 11^th reservation there.

For the past several days, I had been communicating via text with my siblings – Welby, Evelyn, and Bill.  Like me, Ev and Bill live in California.  Welby lives in Norfolk, VA, very close to Virginia Beach.  After several text exchanges this morning, we determined and agreed that I had best abandon all plans to continue south along the coast and turn back west directly from here.  A look at the map will show why.  There’s just too much water – the Atlantic Ocean to the east and the bays, rivers, and sounds to the west.  What a bummer – to have managed to come this far and not get to see my older brother.

Around mid-afternoon, the rain stopped.  Then the sun came out.  I looked out the window and saw not one cloud in the sky.

MONDAY, OCTOBER 10

Waking up to a beautiful blue-sky morning, it was hard to believe that the scenario a hundred or so miles down south was preventing me from going that way.  So, “turning tail” – thanks to Matthew - Navidad and I left Ocean City going back the way we came, on Rt. 50 W.

We crossed the Bay Bridge, drove past Annapolis (yo, Dad, Class of 1941, Naval Academy!), connected to Rt. 3 N and got a site under tall trees at the Capitol KOA in Millersville, MD.  While this was a good place to stop for the night, my feelings were conflicted.  I so wanted to go south…see Welby…enjoy the Outer Banks/Ocracoke…

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 11

By 10:00 a.m. this morning, Navidad and I were heading on out of the Washington, D.C. area – taking Rt. 3 N and Rt. 50 W to the beltway (495 S), making the connection to I-66 W and then to I-81 S.  After a couple of hours on I-81, we passed Staunton, VA, where I had visited with Daphne Cox on September 24^th, and soon reached the exit for Lexington, VA.

Looking for the Lee Hi Campground, located on Rt. 11, right at the exit, I missed it.  Totally perplexed, I kept going north on Rt. 11 for about six miles before I found a place to turn back south.  My turn took me directly though the beautiful and historic town of Lexington, including the prestigious Virginia Military Institute.  I eventually found the campground – it was easy to miss since it was right behind a truck travel center.

Being here now, the third “leg” of my trip has begun, sooner than planned – the drive back home to Palm Springs.  I have a choice – hurry back home or stretch this out to a leisurely travel to California, arriving home on my target date of November 1^st.  Navidad is my cue, especially since he does have a medical condition that I need to keep an eye on.  From this point on, he’s going to call all the shots.

Methinks - let’s hurry on home, Navidad, shall we?

Navidad – after 41 days in the camper, he’s ready to go home…

A whirlwind of a week!

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 4

Oh, wow!  What a whirlwind of a week I just had!  I was so busy I had absolutely no time to do any writing on my laptop – until now.

It was raining when I left Charlottesville, Virginia on Monday, September 26^th.  From the KOA I got on I-64 E to Richmond, VA, connected to Rt. 301 N and arrived at the home of Bobbie and Billy Boswell in Waldorf, MD.  Since they have a motorhome themselves, I took them up on their invitation to park on their driveway and hook up to their 30-amp electrical outlet.  Just as Navidad and I did at Pierre Pugin’s home in Quebec, we stayed just outside Bobbie/Billy’s house all day and night.

Bobbie and I hadn’t seen each other since I attended her retirement reception in 2007.  We’d been colleagues in the Peikoff Alumni House (“Ole Jim”) at Gallaudet University for nearly 20 years – she was the best secretary and assistant anyone could ask for.  Not only did we have a fantastic work relationship, we were close friends and I enjoyed being an active part of her family.  We had a lot of catching up to do and I was delighted when her daughter, Mary, later stopped by.  Earlier, I saw her son, Billy, and I also had the opportunity to see her granddaughter, Nikki, and her children.  Grandson Kenny is now in college but we exchanged greetings via Facetime.

Bobbie and Billy.

Bobbie and me.  Note their Persian, Bojangles, in the background.

The next morning (Tuesday 27^th), I followed Bobbie to the Beltway and then made my way to the Cherry Hill Park in College Park, MD where I had reservations for a seven-night stay.  My whirlwind of a week then began – and it rained nearly all week, too!

Thank you, Barack and Michelle, for your eight years of service as

President and First Lady!

Thank you, Hillary, for your many years of service, nationally and globally - and good luck come November!

Wednesday 9/28 – I was saddened to learn on Monday morning that Helena Schmitt’s sister, who lived in New Jersey, had passed away that morning.  Needing to tend to her sister’s affairs, Helena will not be returning to Maryland to get together with me and act as my “chauffeur” as I make my rounds this week.  My condolences, dear Helena...

Prepared now to drive myself (and Navidad!) to my destinations, I decided to use the GPS on my iPhone – and I am so glad I did!  It’s been years since I’ve driven around here and much has changed.  This morning, I drove to the Costco parking lot in Frederick, MD and met up with Don and Agnes Padden.  Melinda, their daughter-in-law, was also there and I followed them to their local Panera Bread.  Son Bobby arrived a bit later.  Don and Agnes are Gallaudet alumni, Classes of 1945 and 1947 respectively, and they are two of many long-time volunteers I worked and associated with.  Don also served on the Gallaudet University Alumni Association Board of Directors, for which I was the Executive Director.  It was a lovely visit and so good to see them!

Don, me, and Agnes.

Bobby, Agnes, Don, and Melinda.

From that Panera Bread, I drove to the other one in Frederick where I found Linda Tom and Jane Kuzoian, my classmates and good friends, waiting for me.  We had a nice lunch and a great visit.  We were missing Helena, who is our classmate as well.  After a couple of hours, Linda left and Jane took me for a tour of her lovely condo.  Just as I left for the drive back to College Park, it started to rain and then the rain became a fast and furious downpour!  I can’t remember when I last drove in such a downpour!  The rain let up a bit and we made it back to the RV Park.

Linda, me, and Jane.

Later that evening, around 7:30 p.m., coming directly from her job, my first visitor to the camper arrived – Meriam Schroeder.  I walked over to the Registration Office to greet her and we then drove in her car to my camper.  We sat at the dining table inside – warm, comfy, and dry!  The last time we saw each other was when she was in California in 2009 and visited me at my newly-purchased condo in Palm Springs.  We’ve been good friends over the years and I’m especially fond of her mother, Nelly (gonna visit her tomorrow!).

Meriam and me.

Thursday 9/29 – I told myself that, although this entire Washington, D.C. region is truly beautiful on a clear and sunny day, this persistent rain is probably a good thing.  With the sun out of commission and not beating down on the camper, I’m assured of cool temperatures for Navidad.  If he needs warmth, he burrows under the sleeping bag.  If he’s hot, he’s basically stuck.  So, no complaints from me!

I headed out this morning to Gaithersburg, MD for my visit with Nelly Schroeder, Meriam’s dear, sweet Mom.  In her 80s now, she lives with Meriam and Kathy and their dogs and cats.  Since Kathy was off work that day I got to see and chat with her as well.  Being that Nelly’s other daughter lives in California, an hour or so from Palm Springs, I’ve been fortunate to be able to see Nelly several times during her visits with her daughter.  Today’s visit was nice and relaxing.  Nelly showed me pictures of her great-granddaughter, the granddaughter of her [now deceased] son, Carl.  A beautiful baby girl, indeed!

My visit with Nelly was longer than initially planned.  My afternoon visit, with Jack and Rosalyn Gannon at their farm, was cancelled due to a mishap Jack had last Monday – he fell and broke his hip.  I’ve been in touch with Rosalyn and we will work out a rescheduled visit later.  I returned to the camper for a soggy afternoon and evening with Navidad.  He was happy!

Nelly and me.

Kathy and me.

Friday 9/30 – Today is an historic day at Gallaudet University – the Installation of Roberta “Bobbi” Cordano as Gallaudet’s 11th, and first Deaf woman, President.  Since parking my truck camper on campus was likely to be difficult, if not impossible, I opted to take the Metro to the campus.  The Cherry Hill Park has a bus stop – a wonderful amenity for the hordes of RVers here who want to visit Washington, D.C. – and I took the bus to the College Park Metro Station.  Thanks to the inevitable result of progress and new technology, it took me some ten minutes to figure out the new fare card system.  Soon I was on a Green Line train and then a Red Line train to the NoMA-Gallaudet Metro Station.  Following the exit arrow to Florida Avenue, I stepped outside and immediately had no idea where I was.  I was surrounded by buildings that weren’t there before!  One of those was a hotel so I went inside, asked which way to Gallaudet, and about five or six blocks later, I was on the campus.  I had time to walk around before the Installation ceremony began at 3:30 p.m.  As expected, there were many people I knew and the pre and post ceremony hugs and greetings were warm and heartfelt.  It was a wonderful ceremony and shortly after it ended I walked over to College Hall and found Bobbie, Mary, and Kenny in Mary’s office.  After chatting for awhile, Bobbie and Mary drove me back to my camper.  A very, very good day – congratulations to you, President Cordano!

Well, hello Tom and Alice!  Long time no see!

The Peikoff Alumni House (“Ole Jim”), where I worked from 1982-2002.

In the Field House with Daphne Cox and Norma Buemi, just before the ceremony began.

Gallaudet’s new president.

Saturday 10/1 – Noting that it was still raining, I was glad Navidad and I weren’t going anywhere today.  I was expecting two visitors, one in the morning and the other in the afternoon.  My afternoon visitor cancelled due to illness so my morning visitor – Lisa Sealey – stayed all day.  Lisa was a young 20-something bundle of energy when I first met her at an alumni event in Utah, her beloved home state.  In her 50s now, she’s still got a lot of spunk!  She’s a sweet gal, someone I helped settle in a bit when her job transferred her to D.C. in the late ‘90s.  We had a great visit and I’m glad she’s doing so well.

Lisa and me.

Sunday 10/2 – I had two scheduled visitations today.  My morning visitors in my camper were Shellie Chambers and Julie, her partner.  I’d never met Julie but Shellie and I go way back to the late ‘70s.  She was one of about ten women in the sign language class I taught at the D.C. Women’s Center.  She was living in Virginia at the time but we became close and decided to rent (and later buy) a colonial house in Cheverly, MD.  We lived there for eight years with a house full of cats, her Moses and my Fred, Sam, and Jack.  Moving on with our respective lives I’m blessed that we’ve stayed in touch over the years.  During their visit with me, the sun broke through!  Thank you ladies!

Me, Shellie, and Julie.

For my afternoon visitation, I drove to the Kettering-Largo (MD) area.  I had a townhouse there, in Mitchellville, and decided to swing by and see it.  It looked exactly the same and I was happy to see that the neighborhood looked good, too.  A few minutes later, I pulled up to the home of Mike and Susie Kaika.  Mike and I became Alumni Office colleagues when I joined that office in 1978.  We worked together in the basement of College Hall, then moved up to Crow’s Nest in Chapel Hall, then moved in to “Ole Jim” after it was renovated.  Mike eventually joined the Public Relations Office but we enjoyed many years of joint work commitments and a wonderful friendship.  Their two children, Eric and JJ, were very young when Susie became ill but Susie was always there for them, being the best mother she could be.  I lived close enough to visit often and watch their children grow up.  Eric spotted me at Gallaudet last Friday and introduced me to his adorable one-year-old daughter.  JJ and I had a few minutes on Facetime while I was visiting Mike and Susie.  So very proud of them, their parents are!  So very good to see them both!

Mike, Susie, and me.

Monday 10/3 – Bobbie is such a sweetheart!  Last Friday, she offered, I accepted, and at 10:30 a.m. this morning she was right there to pick me up and drive me to Frederick.  We stopped for lunch first at the same Panera Bread where I had lunch last Wednesday with Linda and Jane.  Then we drove to the nearby rehab center and found both Jack and Rosalyn Gannon in his room.  Oh, what a joy to see them both!  Jack had had his hip surgery a few days prior and was, despite the occasional pain, feeling a lot better.  He had a few visitors while Bobbie and I were there – his nurse, a doctor, a social worker – and, with his characteristic good humor, he joked around with them.  Jack and Rosalyn are an endearingly special couple and an important part of my life.  Jack hired me for the Coordinator of Alumni Programs position in 1978 and, as my boss, he mentored me and taught me practically everything I know about writing, planning/organizing, and how to relate to all sorts of people, alumni and others, with respect and sensitivity.  Rosalyn was one of our staunchest alumni volunteers and she was involved with many of our fund-raising and advocacy activities.  I was so lucky the day that Jack decided to hire me!  As our visit drew to a close, their daughter, Christy, came in.  It was wonderful to see her once again also.  The Gannons were the last of my pool of people to visit.  Well, next to last, I should say.  I got to see YOU, three times, Bobbie!  Thank you for taking good care of me!

Jack and me.  He cracked a joke earlier about how similar our haircuts were!

Bobbie, Jack, me, and Rosalyn.

Oh, I made one more visit on this day (Tuesday, 10/4) -- with Mom and Dad at the Arlington National Cemetery.  With my personal pass on the dashboard, the guard welcomed me in, truck camper and all, and within a few minutes I was parked on Arnold, near Section 66.  It took me a tad longer to find their tombstone – there were that many more since I was last there.  I hung around for about 15 minutes, taking pictures and looking around.  Mom was buried there in 1993, and since I didn’t leave the area until 2002, I visited her very often.  I noticed today, and I’m not sure if I noticed before, how alive this revered and solemn place really is, especially on a weekday.  I spotted a frisky squirrel here and there and maybe a bird or two.  But that’s not it.  In addition to the tourists walking over to see the Kennedy brothers’ graves and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, there were workers scattered about tending to their duties – maintaining the landscape, doing some sort of repair over there, and, perhaps most poignant of all, digging a hole for a new arrival.  This is a vast place and everybody in the ground there has a story.  My parents do, too.  I’m glad, honored really, that they are buried there.  It’s the perfect place to be, to rest…

Dad….

Mom…

I had used my GPS to find my way from College Park to the cemetery.  It was quite a route through the crazy narrow streets of NW D.C., past Watergate and the Kennedy Center and over the Potomac River.  On my way out, heading for New York Avenue/Rt. 50, I decided to resort to memory.  At one point I veered right instead of left and ended up taking the 6^th Street exit.  That turned out to be perfect anyway because when I stopped at a red light, I was looking directly at Mr. Henry’s.  Oh, Lordy, the memories -- and the stories those walls could tell!  I also saw a bit of the ongoing improvement of H Street and many of the beautifully renovated rowhouses in that general area.  There was Gallaudet, but I had to move on, taking Rt. 50 E over the Bay Bridge (hello, Chesapeake Bay!) to the Eastern Shore.

It was about 3:30 p.m. when I backed-in to my site at the Janes Island State Park in Crisfield, MD.  I have a view of the Daugherty Creek Canal and a couple of white egrets on the other side.  After such a busy week in the heavily populated D.C. area, being near water is calming.  This state park is the first of my planned “beach stops” as I go south to the Outer Banks (NC).

But, there’s a hurricane churning in the Caribbean…and his name is Matthew…      

Sunset at my site at the Janes Island State Park.

Finding Bliss...

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21

As I type this, sitting at my dining table inside the camper, I’m enjoying the warm morning and the view outside the large dining window.  There’s a cornfield on the other side of the narrow road directly behind my camper.  I think the corn has been harvested but the stalks are still standing and they’ve turned brown.  That there is “Sam’s Farm” and I’m sure Sam will hitch up his team of work horses soon and clear that field.  Every now and then I see motion from the corner of my eye and a horse-drawn buggy is going by on that road.  I’m in Intercourse, Pennsylvania, not far from Lancaster.  It’s all farmland around here and this is home to a large community of the most gentle, simple, and peaceful folk you could ever meet – the Amish.

To backtrack just a bit, our campground last Sunday night (18^th) in North Bay, NY was near Oneida Lake and I had driven along the northern part of that lake [after exiting I-81] to reach the campground.  As we got ready to leave the next morning (Monday 19^th) I decided to return to I-81 via the lake’s southern route.  In no time we were back on I-81 S and crossed into Pennsylvania.

That was not a good drive…not at all a good drive.  That stretch of interstate certainly needs a good overhaul and there was plenty of road construction here and there to testify to that.  Truck, camper, Navidad, and I were jouncing about way too many times.  And, with due respect to the essential role our truck drivers play, it seems NY/PA drivers are a breed all their own!  At one point, going at high speed, a truck hauling a wide load – half of a manufactured home – actually passed me on the left.  And I wasn’t exactly going s-l-o-w either!

That was one rough ride and, after a few miles on I-80 E, I was glad to finally arrive at the Lehigh Gorge Campground in White Haven, NY.  At my site, just as I started to turn off the motor, I felt a strong vibrating sensation at my feet.  Huh?  This is new.  This is different.  I’ve never felt anything like this before.  I then noticed that the floor on the front passenger side was unusually warm and the hood of the truck was quite hot.  My first thought – did something happen, unbeknownst to this Deaf solo woman traveler, on I-81 and I now have another truck problem?  I walked over to the office and asked the lady who handled my registration if, when she led me to my site, she had heard anything unusual emanating from my truck.  She didn’t, but when I inquired further, said that there was a garage just down the road.

Inside the camper, throughout the entire evening, I was upset, worried, frustrated, and feeling very apprehensive about starting up the motor in the morning.  I started to formulate Plan A, Plan B, Plan C, Plan…oh, never mind, you get the picture.

The next morning (Tuesday 20^th), at my request, the nice lady came to my site and listened to the truck when I started it.  Feels perfectly tame and normal to me…I thought.  Watching her, she listened, her face a picture of concentration, and said the truck sounded fine.  Still feeling a tad nervous about getting back on the highway I asked and she agreed to call the garage and tell them I was going to swing by momentarily.  The nice fellow there listened to the truck and said it sounded fine.  At my request, he agreed to check all the fluids and said everything looked good.  At my inquiry, he said no, no charge.  Feeling somewhat better but still wondering what that vibration was, I got going.

We weren’t on I-80 E very long when I took the exit to get on the I-476 toll road.  Things were going OK and I started to relax, feeling very optimistic that the toll road was going to be a heckuva lot smoother.  It was and I eventually reached the exit for Rt. 222, drove south and, as soon as I connected to Rt. 772 E, I was in Amish country.

I loved every moment of this drive through the rural countryside.  There were farms everywhere, painting a landscape of serenity, and many old stone houses stood along the road.  As testament to the history of this area, those houses were built on their precise spots long before local and state municipalities bowed to progress, changing times, and the demand for wider paved roads.  The houses stood that close – a yard or so, maybe – to the edge of the road.

Enroute now to the village of Intercourse, I came to a stop when I saw that the vehicles on my lane ahead of me weren’t moving.  I peered ahead to see what was up and that’s when I saw the horse and buggy approaching on the left lane.  Then there was a second one, and a third, a fourth, and goodness, there must have been 50 of them!  One after another, a chain of horses – all brown or dark brown - were trotting by just feet from where I sat in my truck.  As far as I could tell, there were two people, mostly a bearded man and a woman, in each buggy, although I did glimpse a young couple with a baby in their buggy.  It was quite a procession and when our lane finally moved slowly forward we passed a large structure on the right (a barn?) where I noted this long row of parked buggies and saw a large crowd of Amish people mingling about outside.

My reserved site at the Beacon Hill Campground [in Intercourse] was waiting for me and by 1:00 p.m. my camper was set up and Navidad was tended to.  Then, for the first time since I started this trip, I retrieved my camp chair from the truck and sat outside, directly under the shade of a tree.  Being that there was a narrow [“No Outlet”] road directly behind my camper, going up a slight rise, it wasn’t long before a horse came trotting up, pulling its buggy behind him.  Later in the afternoon, some children, two girls and a boy, walked by, apparently going home from school.  That was an unexpected surprise and those kids, being naturally curious as all kids are, gawked at my camper and the other RVs on my section.  Around late afternoon I walked down that road to the barn at the corner (Sam’s Farm) to take some pictures of the barn, the barnyard animals, and a buggy or two that passed by.

Sam's Farm.

Sam's equipment.

An open buggy going by Sam's Farm.

Sam's barnyard animals.

The family laundry hung out to dry.

And so today, Wednesday 21^st, I’m taking a much-needed driving break and giving Navidad a much-needed chance to sleep to his heart’s content.  Around 10:30 a.m., I locked up the camper and walked the ¾ mile to the “Kitchen Kettle Village” in Intercourse.  There being no sidewalk, I walked against the traffic, all the better to see the vehicles - and buggies - coming my way.

There were a lot of tourists at the Village (yeah, yeah, I was one, too!) but this was an interesting corner spot – at the intersection of Newport Road (Rt. 772) and Old Philadelphia Pike (Rt. 340) - where many of the 40 plus specialty shops featured authentic Dutch baked goods, jams & relishes, crafts, quilts, and other products.  I went inside the Jam & Relish Kitchen where “…the locals cook up homemade Pennsylvania Dutch sweets like jelly, jam and butter, fresh baked goods like pie and cookies, and delicious canned goods like relish, salsa, and pickles…” and was just in time to watch a group of five or six Amish women cook and can the day’s special.  The store itself was quite large and full of all sorts of food products, many of which are made right there.  

Following a bite of lunch at the Kling House Restaurant, and getting a scoop of fresh ice cream from the Lapp’s Farm, I walked back to my camper where I spent the rest of the day writing, gazing at the cornfield, and watching the occasional Amish resident walk or trot by.  The Amish kids appeared again and this time they were accompanied by an older boy who was riding bareback on his pony.  They seemed to take a special interest in my camper, pointing to the truck.  Unlike the more common trailer-type of RV, hitched to and pulled by a truck, my kind of RV, ON my truck, certainly is different. 

Suffice it to say, to be here, amongst the Amish, is bliss indeed!

A young mother and her kids, passing by my camper.

What a beautiful horse and a vision of tranquility!

A parked buggy near the village of Intercourse.

Going home from school.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 22

Gosh, has it been three weeks today since I left home?  Already?  But for those truck and camper problems, it has been a good trip thus far.  The visit last weekend with Lee-Ann Pugin and her family was, and will continue to be, THE highlight of this trip!  There are three “legs” to this trip and I’m about ready to begin the second leg!

It occurred to me, fairly recently, that I haven’t needed to turn on the heat in the camper for quite awhile now.  The nights were cold in Idaho, Montana, and Upper Michigan, but it has been pleasantly warm, if a tad humid, since I’ve reached this eastern part of the USA.

Today was a beautiful day to drive.  I wished only that I had enough time to drive south, towards Staunton, VA, on the country roads.  Since I don’t have the time, I left Intercourse this beautiful morning, taking Rts. 340 W and 30 W to I-81 S.  My countryside route before reaching the interstate included Gettysburg – both the town and the battlefield – and again I wished I had the time.

This section of I-81 was smooth going, much to my relief!  Navidad (ever patient and waiting in his carrier until we stop again!) and I crossed from Pennsylvania into Maryland and then into West Virginia.  We reached Falling Waters and got a site for the night at the Falling Waters Campsite.  After setting up the camper, my first order of business was to do the laundry!

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 23

Back on I-81 S this morning it took only two hours to arrive at the Shenandoah Valley Campground in Verona, VA, near Staunton.  I picked a nice place to stay for two nights – there’s lots of trees, a Catch-and-Release Fishing Lake, a river and waterfall, and a bunch of friendly rabbits hopping around all over.  But…now that it’s Friday, there’s also a lot of families with kids and dogs.  Unaccustomed to the kind of racket such an assembly brings, Navidad sought refuge under the sleeping bag.  Aw, gee.  It was really too hot today for him to be under there, so I closed all the windows and turned on the AC.  That helped and he seemed content to observe this circus of humanity, canines, and rabbits through the windows.

Aw, gee!  The internet here sucks!  “Mapita, you’re at a campground and there are tall trees all around you.  You want perfect internet, go to Starbucks.”

Navidad's tell-tale bulge.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24

The second leg of my trip officially began today when I received my first visitor – Daphne Cox!  Daphne and I have been friends since she joined my [Alumni Office] staff at Gallaudet University in 1995.  A dedicated advocate for Gallaudet, Daphne was an exemplary employee with a keen eye and head for logistics, organization, and coordination.  I relied on her extensively for many of our programs and events – and for teaching me how to properly and more efficiently use the computer!  A Virginia girl with deep roots here in the Staunton area, she has returned home since retiring from Gallaudet.

We met up at the campground registration office at 10:00 a.m. and spent all day together.  She drove me around, showing me Staunton’s charming downtown, a couple of beautiful parks, her sister’s house where she is living until she gets her own, and her school, the Virginia School for the Deaf and the Blind.  We walked around the campus, which I very much enjoyed.  Earlier, we had had a leisurely breakfast and then later in the afternoon, we got some ice cream from Kline’s.  On the return to my camper, we picked up some salad for supper.

Navidad was waiting right there at the screen door when I opened up.  I’d left him alone there from 10:00 am to about 6:00 p.m.  After feeding him, Daphne and I walked over to see the waterfall.  The river there is called the Middle River and I’m guessing there is an Upper River (thus the waterfall) and a Lower River.  We had our salads inside the camper and caught up on more conversation.  It was past 9:00 p.m. when we said our good-nights and she left for home.  Truly a perfect day with Daphne!

Daphne at the entrance to the Virginia School for the Deaf
and the Blind.

Daphne and me.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 25

Waking up to a rainy/misty morning, I looked outside and noticed that the weekend’s campers were packing up, one by one, and heading out.  I got ready to do the same and was soon on my way, via I-81 S, I-64 E, and Rt. 20 S, to the KOA in Charlottesville, VA for a rendezvous with my next visitor – Chris Krentz.

Chris was a baby-faced 23-year-old deaf Yale graduate when I first met him in my office in “Ole Jim” [at Gallaudet] in 1990.  He had just been hired for a position in the Development Office and his boss told him to go meet with me and learn about our alumni.  That first meeting, even though Chris hadn’t yet learned ASL, led to an extraordinary and fun-filled four-year work experience -- and to a warm friendship as well.  We worked closely together on various projects and traveled extensively to meet with alumni groups around the country.  Our trips weren’t without some funny adventures and those memories I will long cherish!

Chris left Gallaudet in 1994 to pursue his Doctorate Degree at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville.  He found his niche at this most esteemed university and is today Associate Professor of English and ASL.  A long-time bachelor, he is now married and he and Michelle have a three-year-old son, Daniel.  It’s been 11 years since we last saw each other.

As with Daphne yesterday, Chris agreed to meet up with me at the KOA registration office at 2:00 p.m. and as soon as we saw each other through the screen door, we both had nothing but huge grins.  I simply couldn’t stop hugging him!  We went inside my camper and there we sat, catching up on all that’s been going on with our respective lives.  Around 4:00 p.m. we enjoyed a snack of fresh bagels/cream cheese and slices of pear that he had brought with him.  Since he didn’t live far from the KOA, I accepted his invitation to go to his house and meet Michelle and Daniel.  That was such a sweet meeting!  I’m so happy this get-together worked out so well!

Chris.

Chris and me.